Hartford Athletic Assistant Academy Coach Intern
Hartford Athletic
1 hour ago
Internship
On-site
Windsor, Connecticut, United States
Hartford Athletic Assistant Academy Coach Intern
Mission
We are Hartford Athletic. Our mission is to provide a world class professional soccer experience and make our community the best place to live, work, and play.
We are Hartford Athletic. Our mission is to provide a world class professional soccer experience and make our community the best place to live, work, and play.
Overview
The Hartford Athletic Assistant Academy Coach Internship is an opportunity for an aspiring coach to gain hands-on experience within a professional soccer club's youth development environment. The Assistant Academy Coach will work alongside Hartford Athletic Academy coaching and technical staff, supporting the planning and delivery of training sessions, match-day activities, player development, and the overall operation of an Academy team. The successful candidate will work directly with the relevant Academy Head Coach and Hartford Athletic Academy/Technical leadership, and will be encouraged to actively contribute to training, match preparation, and player development rather than simply observe.
This position is particularly suited to a current college student, recent graduate, or young coach looking to develop their coaching experience and gain greater exposure to the day-to-day demands of working within a professional club Academy.
Responsibilities
Training & Coaching
Training & Coaching
- Assist the Head Coach with the planning and delivery of Academy training sessions
- Support the organization and setup of training activities
- Lead individual components of sessions under the direction of the Head Coach
- Coach individuals and small groups within training
- Provide appropriate technical and tactical feedback to players
- Assist with position-specific and unit-based development work
- Help create a positive, competitive, and development-focused training environment
- Support the implementation of Hartford Athletic's Academy playing and coaching methodology
Match-Day Responsibilities
- Assist with match-day preparation and organization
- Support the delivery of pre-match warm-ups
- Assist the Head Coach with tactical preparation and player communication
- Observe and analyze individual and team performance during matches
- Provide appropriate input to the Head Coach throughout match day
- Assist with post-match player feedback and review
Player Development
- Support the creation and implementation of individual player development objectives
- Provide regular feedback to players regarding their technical, tactical, physical, and personal development
- Assist with individual and small-group development sessions
- Support player evaluations and development reports
- Help identify areas for continued player development
- Build positive and professional relationships with Academy players
Video & Performance Analysis
- Assist with filming training sessions and matches where required
- Review match footage alongside Academy coaching staff
- Identify clips that can support individual and team development
- Assist with individual player video reviews
- Use video as a tool to reinforce coaching points and Academy principles
Academy Operations
- Assist with equipment setup and breakdown at training sessions and matches
- Support communication and organization around the team where required
- Work collaboratively with other Hartford Athletic Academy coaches and staff
- Attend relevant Academy staff meetings and coach-development activities
- Represent Hartford Athletic professionally at training sessions, matches, tournaments, and club events
Player Pathway
- Develop an understanding of the Hartford Athletic player-development pathway
- Support the development of players with the potential to progress through the Academy structure
- Work collaboratively with coaches across different Academy age groups
- Gain exposure to the connection between Academy soccer, Hartford Athletic II, and the professional First Team
- Support opportunities for players to train or compete at appropriate levels within the club pathway
Desired Qualifications
- Strong passion for coaching and player development
- Some previous youth soccer coaching experience
- Good understanding of the technical and tactical aspects of the game
- Enthusiastic, reliable, and willing to learn
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Comfortable working with young players in a high-performance environment
- Demonstrates professionalism and represents Hartford Athletic appropriately
- Willing to receive feedback and continually develop their coaching practice
- Ambitions to continue developing a career within soccer coaching
- A U.S. Soccer coaching license or equivalent qualification, or active progress toward coaching qualifications, is desirable
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, a recent graduate, or a young coach gaining experience, otherwise must be a volunteer
- Available throughout the fall and/or spring semester
- Available for evening and weekend training sessions, matches, and tournaments
- Reliable transportation to Hartford Athletic Academy training and match locations
- Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds and assist with equipment setup and breakdown
Learning Opportunities
Interns will gain practical experience in:
Interns will gain practical experience in:
- Planning and delivering high-level youth soccer training
- Individual player development
- Technical and tactical coaching
- Match-day coaching and preparation
- Video and performance analysis
- Player evaluation and reporting
- Working within a professional Academy environment
- Understanding a professional club's playing and coaching methodology
- Working as part of a professional technical staff
- Understanding the pathway from youth soccer toward senior and professional soccer
The internship will also provide opportunities for mentorship and coach development through interaction with Hartford Athletic coaching and technical staff.
This internship is ideal for students, recent graduates, or young coaches pursuing careers in Sport Management, Coaching, Exercise Science, or related fields who are interested in building a career in youth and professional soccer coaching.
Hartford Athletic is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.